Terrorism: Again Kanu refuses to enter defence, insists no valid charge against him

• …Court gives him till Nov 5 to do so or waive rights

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

Detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has insisted that the Federal Government has not put up a valid charge of terrorism against him, as he urged the court to discharge him accordingly.

This came as the Federal High Court has given him till November 5 to defend the terrorism charges against him or waive his right to do so.

Besides, Justice James Omotosho pleaded with Kanu to consult with legal practitioners conversant with criminal laws to aid his defence or opt for a lawyer to handle his case for him.

When the case resumed yesterday,  Kanu, who announced appearance for himself, told the court that he would not go back to detention unless the charges against him were clearly shown to him.

Kanu maintained that his detention at the facility of the Department of State Services (DSS) was illegal and unlawful because there was no known law he had breached.

He accused the court of violating the Supreme Court judgment that condemned his extraordinary rendition from Kenya and demanded that the judge must unfailingly and immediately discharge him.

When reminded that the Supreme Court remitted the case for a fresh trial, he went back to his insistence that the terrorism charge against him was incompetent, invalid and illegal.

Citing section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution, Kanu said that there was no written law on terrorism offence in Nigeria today, hence, there was nothing for him to defend.

“In Nigeria today, the Constitution is the supreme law; there is no provision for terrorism offence in the Constitution. There is no valid charge against me. I will not go back to any detention today.

“Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act has been repealed. I cannot put in defense under a repealed law. I won’t do that.

“Tell any lawyer to show me the valid charge. I appeal to you to please take judicial notice of the repeal of the terrorism charges. I am not ready to go back to detention today, unless I am shown the valid charge against me.

“I cannot be tried under a law that has been repealed. A law that is not written in our Constitution. Prosecuting me under a repealed law is a violation of my fundamental right”, he said repeatedly.

After much persuasion and his insistence not to defend the charge, Justice Omotosho in a brief remark, shifted further hearing till November 5, for Kanu to either enter his defense or waive his right to do so.

At yesterday’s proceedings, counsel to the FG, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, had drawn the attention of the court to some documents served on him by Kanu, adding that the documents are worthless and have no probative value because they were not signed and endorsed by the court.

He urged the court to discountenance the documents, permitting him to adopt his final address and fix a date for judgment.

The Judge overruled him, stating that the documents in the court records are signed with evidence of payment.